Conductive nanocomposite-based electrodes for lithium batteries

摘要

This invention provides a nanocomposite-based lithium battery electrode comprising: (a) A porous aggregate of electrically conductive nano-filaments that are substantially interconnected, intersected, physically contacted, or chemically bonded to form a three-dimensional network of electron-conducting paths, wherein the nano-filaments have a diameter or thickness less than 1 μm (preferably less than 500 nm); and (b) Sub-micron or nanometer-scale electro-active particles that are bonded to a surface of the nano-filaments with a conductive binder material, wherein the particles comprise an electro-active material capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium ions and wherein the electro-active material content is no less than 25% by weight based on the total weight of the particles, the binder material, and the filaments. Preferably, these electro-active particles are coated with a thin carbon layer. This electrode can be an anode or a cathode. The battery featuring such an anode or cathode exhibits an exceptionally high specific capacity, an excellent reversible capacity, and a long cycle life.

主权项

1. A nanocomposite-based lithium battery electrode comprising:
(a) an electrically conductive web consisting of nano-scaled graphene platelets that are interconnected, intersected, physically contacted, or chemically bonded to form a three-dimensional network of electron-conducting paths, wherein said platelets have a length and a width and the ratio of the length to width is greater than 3; (b) sub-micron or nanometer-scale electro-active particles; and (c) an electrically conductive binder material wherein the electro-active particles are bonded to a surface of said nano-scaled graphene platelets with the electrically conductive binder material, wherein said electro-active particles comprise an electro-active material capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium ions and wherein the electro-active material content is no less than 20% by weight based on the total weight of the electro-active particles, the binder material, and the nano-scaled graphene platelets; wherein said electrically conductive binder material is selected from an electrically conductive polymer, a polymeric carbon, a metal or metal alloy, or a combination thereof and the electrically conductive polymer is obtained from carbonization of poly(acrylonitrile), poly(furfuryl alcohol), poly(amic acid), polyimide, phenolic resin, or a combination thereof.